Into the home stretch

A veteran Heritage team has a state title in its sights.

May 8, 2008|BY MASON KELLEY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

PLANTATION — A friend recently approached Eric Hosmer with an idea. He told the American Heritage first baseman about an acquaintance at Western High who is a rapper. He thought Hosmer needed his own walk-up song.

"I thought at first that it wouldn't be that good," Hosmer said. "I listened to it and I was like, 'Wow, that's pretty cool.' "

A few home runs later, the song is working out well for the senior, who leads a veteran group of Patriots into the 3A regional finals against Chaminade-Madonna on Friday in a best-of-3 series, starting with a 4 p.m. doubleheader. The third game would be Saturday.

"This group's been together since we were about 12 years old," Hosmer said. "We know each other so well. We've always been pretty successful. This is the last goal, ultimately as a group, to win the state title."

With Hosmer's walk-up song, a No. 1 national ranking courtesy of Baseball America and a bevy of Division I-level talent, the Patriots (27-2) aren't hurting for attention.

But while they want to enjoy the moment, they also want to maintain their focus.

"I think sometimes you look ahead when it's right there in front of you," Patriots coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. "We can smell it, but we've got to take care of what's in front of us first."

Despite having home-field advantage, Fitz-Gerald isn't taking any chances, starting ace Juan Carlos Sulbaran in the first game. The senior is 9-0 this season with a 1.63 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 52 innings.

"You play for the first one; you get that one under your belt," Fitz-Gerald said.

After Sulbaran, the Patriots are stocked with arms such as Greg Conver (6-1, 1.02 ERA), Ryan Kahn (8-0, 0.71 ERA) and Hosmer, who closes things down late in games.

"I take pride in catching those guys," senior Adrian Nieto said.

American Heritage's offense has given the pitching staff plenty of help all season. Center fielder Joe Belviso leads the team in batting average (.507) and home runs (15), while Hosmer is hitting .487 with 11 home runs.

There is so much experience on the team it is difficult to find a weakness.

"We each have a part on the team that we do and we get it done most of the time because we are still so talented," said junior shortstop Deven Marrero, who has 36 RBI and 37 runs scored.